Giant Price Drop For Syl's, Legendary Restaurant In Rockdale

ROCKDALE — The new real estate agent trying to sell Rockdale's legendary Syl's Restaurant & Lounge believes the significant drop in price for 829 Moen Ave. — which includes a paved parking lot for more than 90 vehicles — will finally bring the empty building back to life.

Mike McCatty of Century 21 Commercial told Joliet Patch's editor on Wednesday evening that he took over the property listing about two weeks ago.

McCatty said he has dropped the price for Syl's to $640,000, and he's confident that Syl's will sell quickly, which is what village of Rockdale officials want to see happen.

Last August, Joliet Patch reported how Caton Commercial Real Estate Group had the empty Syl's restaurant for sale at $1.1 million. There were no takers.

Then in December, Patch reported that Caton Commercial lowered its original asking price to $999,990. Again, there were no takers.

Now, Caton Commercial is out of the picture, and Mike McCatty has the listing, and he's lowered the price by another $359,990.

Given that the price to buy Syl's has dropped nearly in half from the original listing of $1.1 million, McCatty said, he's confident a new buyer will emerge rather quickly.

"The village of Rockdale is very open to several possibilities," McCatty explained. "And it does not have to stay as a restaurant. It can even be a church."

McCatty wanted everyone to know that Rockdale is open to a wide range of uses for the empty restaurant, which has not been open since the last week of December 2022.

In addition to serving as a future church in Rockdale, Century 21's new property listing for Syl's included the following possibilities:

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Food Service
• Distribution Center
• Office
• Medical
• Retail

"Centrally located with easy access to I-80. Surrounded by flourishing businesses with more growth anticipated. At this auction pricing, act fast. Personal property, inventory and trade fixtures not included," the Century 21 Commercial listing reads.

Built in 1946 with concrete blocks, the elegant restaurant and banquet hall consists of 13,000 square feet.

On Jan. 3, 2023, Joliet Patch reported Maura Williams announced that Syl's was permanently closed.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share that we are closing our doors under the current management. We thank you for allowing us to be such a special part of your lives over the years. We hope the memories shared with us will live on in your hearts."

Less than three months earlier, in October 2022, Don "Duke" Williams, a well-known figure in the Joliet area restaurant community, and the owner of Syl's since 2019, died unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack.

More Joliet Patch Syl's coverage in recent years:

Syl's Restaurant & Lounge: Big Change For 1st Time Since 1946

Price Drop: Syl's Restaurant And Lounge Now Under $1 Million